Three-day polio campaign starts in Balochistan today

QUETTA: A three-day anti-polio campaign in 17 districts of Balochistan kicked off from Monday, said Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) Balochistan Coordinator Syed Faisal Ahmed.

Ahmed shared that more than 17,75,614 children will be administered polio vaccine during the campaign. 

Security arrangements for the campaign have been completed. During the campaign, around 6,761 teams will be in the field with 5,934 mobile teams, 480 fixed sites and 364 transit points, he said.

The campaign will start in these districts: Barkhan, Chagai, Jafarabad, Kila Saifulah, Loralai, Duki, Musa Kheel, Naseerabad, Zhob, sheerani, Jhal Magsi, Khuzdar, Lasbella, Mastung, Noshki, Dera Bugti and Sohbat Pur.

Moreover, a five-day campaign started in three districts including Quetta, Pishin and Killa Abdulla. 

Fool-proof security arrangements with the deployment of Balochistan Levies, police and frontier corps personnel have been made.

The poliovirus is still present in our environment as per environmental samples report, and we are worried that the virus could affect any child anytime especially those who have less immunity against the disease, the official said, adding that it is the responsibility of the parents to cooperate with the polio workers administering polio drops to their children.

He said the support received and steps carried out by the Balochistan government are satisfactory.

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Syed Faisal Ahmed added that the role of parents in the polio campaign is crucial and the role of civil society and religious clerics is also important.

He also asked media to play its role for the success of the polio campaign.

Around seven polio cases have been reported in the country this year, where one case was from Chaman of district Killa Abdullah and one from Zhob.